Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, April 18th,

WASHINGTON, April 18th, 1887.
Yesterday the glad Easter chimes
rang out, and the forty days of Lent
are passed. In the churches Easter
services were general, and in many
of them the regular services were
omitted entirely to make way for
the elaborate musical programmes
which had been arranged. But in
| the fashionable world the impor-
lance of the day did not end with
it's religious observance. 1t marked
another epoch--the casting aside
of sackcloth and ashes and the re-
sumption of gayeties and spring bon
nets.
At the White House Easter did
not interfere with the regular order
beyond the special privilege given
to the children of the District. In
accordance with a time honored GUS
tom they have the full freedom of the
White House grounds ON Easter
Monday for the purpose of egg roll
ing and while I am writing thousands
of children from seventy years old
down of both sexes may be seen on
the grassy slopes enjoying the sport.
The Natioal Drill which begins on
the 23rd of next month and contin-
ues nine days ending on Decoration
Day, will be grand gathering of
citizen soldiery. The smoke occas-
toned by the color line has dwindled
away and from beneath it comes the
steady enrolment of additional mill
tia who recognize the fact, that
troops of the colored race have q
right to do their best in the coming
contest.
Of all the absurdities that have
come to the surface lately the with
drawal of certain Southern compan-
les from the Drill because some
colored military-regularly organ
lied militia-were admitted to
participate is the most far-fetched
and reprehensible. The coming
event is public affair, a national
affair, and involves no social equali-
ty or association whatever. At the
Yorktown celebration the brigade
commanded by Gen. Fitz Lee includ-
ed number of colored companies,
and their bearing and marching was
no discredit to the command. On
the contrary they acquitted them.
selves excellently well. Colo:ed
troops took part in the Cleveland in.
auguration also and no section of
the country was offended by it.
The hasty action of some of the
ultra southerners is very much re-
gretted as is shown in the case of
Governor Lee of Virginia. He was
the first official to enter colored
troops for the drill and when it be-
came apparent that opposition was
TO be made he ordered his adjutant
to proceed to Washington and enter
the whole four brigades of the Ma
tional Guards. 1t was first intended
to enter only three companies but
now all will come bringing with them
equipments and horses tor two regi-
ments are cavalry.
The recalcitrant course of the
Montgomery "Greys" and "True-
Blues" has received much unfavor-
able comment. They will simply
lose the best opportunity they have
ever had for public display of their
soldiership and discipline while the
grand spectacle will proceed as i'm.
posingly as if they had lent their
presence to it's success. So it is not
| for their loss that the promoters OF
the Washington Encampment regret
what has taken place. They with
liberal minded patriotic people every
where are sorry to see such evidence
of narrowness of feeling on the part
of the citizen soldiers in any part of
the Union. And they particularly
regret that race antipathies and sec
tional prejudice, which should have
been laid aside at the end OF the re-
construction era, survive in so offen-
sive form. What text the Ma
tional Drill episode will furnish the
Republican orator in Congress and
on the stump If he is inclined TO take
advantage of it.
The Drill will take place on the
level ellipse lying south of the Exc
cutive Mansion which is called the
White Lot" 1t is a mile in cir
conference. 1t will be enclosed and
seats arranged around it in amphi-
theatre style. The ghostly city of
tents will be located on the grounds
around the Washington Monument.
Daily contest will be held to show
the proficiency of the cavalry, infan;
try, artillery and zouave tactics and
each evening there will be grand
dress parade. Cash prizes will be
distributed to the amount of S25, 800
besides stands of colors, gold, silver
and bronze medals, special medals
and plate trophies.
The great parade will take place
on Governors day when at least
twenty five Chief Executives of
States will review the procession
with the President. 1t will doubt
less be the largest gathering seen
here since the grand review at the
end of the war. Thirty-six States
and some Territories will be repre-
scented in the contest. and tens of
thousands of visitors will come to
look on. Fortunately they will see
the National Capital at the height
of its far-famed beauty by the last
IF Mav